Hello,
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my self. My name is Monika Richards and I am an independent consultant. Farnham Maltings Arts Centre and Arts Council England contracted me to carry out research and consultation on the best engagement and accessible ways of communication with the Voluntary & Community Sector. The consultation will cover eight locations across the East/South East regions that include: Colchester, East Kent, Great Yarmouth, Luton, Milton Keynes, Reading, Slough and Watford.
I am keen to visit infrastructure organisations, key voluntary and community organisations as well as individuals in Reading & Slough. This is particularly aimed at those being active in arts and cultural activities outside the Arts Sector and rarely engage with Arts Council England.
The questions I will be asking would focus on three key questions:
1. I would be interested in finding out more about your work.
2. The marginalised groups, communities and individuals in your location with a focus on disability, race and ethnic diversity and people who find themselves in deprived circumstances.
3. The insights and experiences on best engagement and advice giving, in the Voluntary & Community Sector.
Please get in touch if you think you may be able to help facilitate or take part in this discussion. I would like to arrange a round table discussion inviting diverse groups, organisations and individuals. I am available most days for phone conversations and can be contact by email and Skype. Please see my details below and I look forward to speaking with you.
Monika Richards
Research Consultant for Voluntary and Community Engagement
For Farnham Maltings
Mob. 077 303 391 45
Email: akilalive@gmail.com
Skype: akila.richards3
Nominations are now open for the Community Policing Awards 2016 this is your chance to recognise the work done by community officers, volunteers and police staff who work in your area.
Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in their role?
Should they be recognised for their hard work and effort over the last year?
Do you have an example of how they have exceeded what is expected of them?
There are seven categories again this year and after the success of last year’s ceremony in July being chosen as a winner is a huge honour.
Community Police Officer 2016
Do you know a neighbourhood police officer who has made a difference to your community?
PCSO 2016
Can you think of a PCSO who has made an outstanding contribution to your community?
Special Constable 2016
Special Constables are volunteer police officers who help to serve your communities. Do you know a Special who has gone above and beyond in your community?
Volunteer 2016
Volunteers donate their time to the police force. Do you know a volunteer who supports police community engagement in your area?
Diversity Champion 2016
Diversity Champions improve engagement with minority groups in the community, work towards increasing diversity and improving accessibility between the Force and the public.
Do you know someone who has helped to improve diversity in your community?
Cadet 2016
Cadets are young dedicated volunteers who want to make a difference in your community. Do you know a cadet who supports fellow cadets, shows initiative, supports community events, is committed to and is an advocate for the police force?
Victim Support Award 2016
Do you know an officer or member of police staff who has provided outstanding support for victims?
To nominate please follow the link relating to the relevant award above, the nominations close on Monday 22 February.
As part of its successful application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Boxford History Project is running a lecture series given by expert speakers focussing mainly but not exclusively on Pre-Roman and Roman settlement.
The first is a lecture on Roman villas which will be given by Neil Holbrook an ex Time Team member and now a Director of Cotswold Archaeology on Wednesday 10th February at 7.30pm at Boxford Village Hall on the Lambourn Valley Road RG20 8DD. The following lecture will be given by coin specialist Sam Moorhead of the British Museum in June. November's lecture will be by Julian Richards a specialist archaeologist and broadcaster.
Full details are available at http://boxford.org.uk/category/big-dig-2015/ Please RSVP to parishcouncil@boxford.org.uk if you plan to come. They anticipate high demand for places so seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
The UK wastes 15 million tonnes of food per year, according to a 2014 House of Lords report – at a cost of £5bn. Neighbourly Food solves both ends of the surplus food distribution challenge. The service allows local charities, food banks and surplus recycling operations to sign up, for free, to publicise their food requirements. Businesses including retailers, supermarkets, grocers, manufacturers and food distributors are able to use the service to offer their surplus food resources, showing what’s available, its location for collection and expiry date.
Neighbourly Food provides transparency to all participants so that the best possible use is made of the UK’s surplus food resources. Currently local charities and causes which need donations are often invisible to potential food donors, while businesses lack a platform through which to find causes and then to manage their contributions with orderly and efficient processes. These problems are compounded by the pressure of time, as a result of use-by dates on fresh food products.
In addition to matching food donations to causes, Neighbourly Food supports the back office logistical requirements of participating businesses to help them effectively manage and report upon their successes in food re-distribution.
Neighbourly Food has already been selected by Marks and Spencer to support its national surplus food redistribution scheme. The scheme will connect all its stores with local food charities and accelerate M&S towards its Plan A target of reducing food waste by 20% by 2020.
If you think your charity or food bank might be able to benefit from surplus food re-distribution, to join the scheme by emailing food@neighbourly.com.
Article courtesy of Slough CVS
A free and independent service for parents and carers and children and young people with special educational needs and/or disability aged 0-25 years in West Berkshire.
Love your two wheels? Love your local wildlife! Sign up to the 200-mile challenge Wild Ride for Wildlife from Greenham Common to Paris, and help to protect the amazing animals, flowers, reptiles and insects of West Berkshire.
The Wild Ride for Wildlife will take place in September 2016, but cyclists are encouraged to sign up now to start fund-raising and training for the three-day cycle ride through southern England and northern France.
The Wildlife Trust is hosting a Wild Ride Information Evening on Wednesday 27 January at 7pm in the Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham for seasoned long-distance cyclists and keen enthusiasts to find out more about the route, equipment and training, how to fund-raise, and about the wildlife and special wild places of West Berkshire that will benefit from the Wild Ride. www.bbowt.org.uk/wildride
Dr Kate Dent, the head of conservation and education for Berkshire, explains why the Wildlife Trust is raising funds in the sponsored challenge.
“West Berkshire’s nature reserves such as Snelsmore Common, Paices Wood Country Park and the Nature Discovery Centre are very popular with people who want to get away from their hectic lives, to enjoy time in the fresh air and being closer to nature. The Wildlife Trust looks after these nature reserves to help people enjoy their visits and discover fascinating wildlife there.
“We’re very lucky to have the majority of the county’s heathland across sites such as Greenham and Crookham Commons, where the Wildlife Trust is protecting habitats for ground-nesting birds, reptiles and orchids, and they’re great places for people to go for walking and cycling too. Local people can directly support the sites they love even if they aren’t cyclists themselves and up for the challenge, by sponsoring those brave souls that are!”
“Helping people to have more access to wild places close to where they live and enjoy being there is one of the main objectives for the Wildlife Trust, and the Wild Ride for Wildlife will enable us to look after the very special heathland.”
The Wild Ride for Wildlife is being organised by experienced event managers, Global Adventure Challenges who help charities to raise essential funds for their work.
A course for those with mild-moderate learning difficulties. Participants will explore the play Romeo + Juliet and then come to watch it at The Watermill, Newbury as a group. Over the weeks participants will introduce to the group to the characters, narrative and text of Romeo + Juliet, using fun and creative drama exercises and experiences. We’ll work towards our own abridged version to share on Week 8. The ultimate intended outcome is that through attending the workshop course, participants are sufficiently equipped and excited to understand and enjoy this mainstage production which they might not ordinarily feel they have access to. To book your place on the course and for further information please e-mail: lixi@watermill.org.uk
